• Preventing Tobacco Use Around the World
  We are all affected by tobacco —even if we don’t smoke. Secondhand smoke, air pollution, and the high costs of health care that come with tobacco use affect our families.
• Play, Downtime, and Your Child’s Health
  Children (and their parents) are busier today than ever before and that’s why a little downtime—time with family or in creative play—goes a long way.
• The Importance of Journaling
  Keeping a personal journal is an easy and healthy way for people to express themselves. Journaling can help young people by providing a safe space for them to write down their thoughts, opinions, and feelings. Whatever your child would like to include is OK. Encourage your child to write whatever comes to mind.
• We All Have Mental Health; Time To End the Stigma
  Each one of us has opinions, attitudes, physical health, and mental health. Just like physical health, a person’s mental health can range from good to poor.
• The Importance of Family Mealtime
  What's dinnertime like in your home? Does everyone heat up their own meal in the microwave at different times and retire to their own corner of the house? Eating dinner together as a family has become a lost art. A lot of emphasis is placed on what we eat, but not on how we eat.
• Wising Up to Media
  Today’s youth receive an unending flood of messages from a growing number of sources. For many kids, electronic communication is a full-time job. Besides competing with activities such as homework, physical activity, and family life, the many hours kids spend gazing at screens and tapping keys are likely to shape their tastes, beliefs, and behavior.
• Make the Most of Red Ribbon Week 2007
  During National Red Ribbon Week, October 23-28, 2007, millions of young people and adults will support healthy lifestyles by wearing or displaying a red ribbon. This nationwide celebration has become a major force for raising public awareness and mobilizing communities to combat underage drinking and illegal drug use among youth.
• Elementary School Success Helps Keep Kids Drug Free
  Most parents don’t realize that the benefits of getting good grades can affect more than their kids’ future education and careers. Kids who do well in school are more likely to be drug free. It’s a great reason to help your child thrive in his studies and develop a positive attitude toward learning.
• Know the Warning Signs - Prevent Suicide in Young People
  Suicide is a serious problem among young people. You may be surprised to learn that it is the third leading cause of death for 15- to 19-year-olds in the United States. Only accidents and homicide are more common causes of death for this age group. A far greater number of youths attempt suicide each year. Suicide attempts are not easy to count because many may not be treated in a hospital or may not be recorded as self-inflicted injuries. Survey data from 2005 show that 17 percent of high school students had seriously thought about suicide, 13 percent had made plans to attempt suicide, and more than 8 percent had made a suicide attempt during the year before the survey.
• Parent's Prevention Primer—Risk and Protective Factors
  You try to keep your kids healthy, right? You make sure they get enough sleep, eat fruits and vegetables, and brush their teeth. Prevention is key to keeping your child well. When it comes to alcohol, tobacco, and illegal drugs, preventive measures—also called “protective factors”—can help keep your child from using substances.¹ In contrast, risk factors are like red flags that can warn you about possible dangers in your child’s future—and help you prevent those dangers.

* We refer to a child as "him" in some places and "her" in others. We do this for easier reading. All information applies to both boys and girls unless otherwise specified.